"I am very mad for this, but we cannot do anything really. Change the government," Mytsak said in an interview with the Associated Press. "Every time in the Olympics time, the war was stopped, even if the wars (were) between the other countries. They were stopped. And now in Ukraine, they are going mad. I don't know what to say."

Sergey Bubka, president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and former pole vault champion, called for an “Olympic truce” in hopes of ending the deadly violence.

“I’m shocked by what is happening in my native country — especially because the violence is taking place during the Olympic Games — the world’s most peaceful and democratic event,” Bubka said in a statement on his website. “I am once again urging all parties to stop the violence! There is no 'their' Ukraine, or 'your' Ukraine. It is OUR Ukraine.”

Deep condolences to victims in Kyiv. My appeal to all sides: please remember the tradition of Olympic Truce, lay down weapons!

However, the International Olympic Committee rejected a request from Ukrainian athletes to wear black armbands in mourning, saying it was not permitted under the Olympic Charter. IOC President Thomas Bach expressed his condolences to the victims of the violence in Kyiv and praised the competitors for continuing to represent their country in Sochi.

“The way they have continued to represent their nation with great dignity is a credit to them and their country," Bach said. “Their presence here is a symbol that sport can build bridges and help to bring people from different backgrounds together in peace."

According to the BBC, two Ukrainian female skiers failed to appear for their semi-final at the Sochi Olympics today. Marina Lisogor and Katerina Serdyuk, who haven’t made a statement to the media, were expected to compete in the women's cross-country skiing Team Sprint Classic semi-finals.

While their absence has not yet been confirmed to be an act of protest, Andrei Sannikov, a former diplomat and prominent opposition leader in Belarus, took to Twitter to voice his solidarity and respect for the skiers.